Cetinje – handball is synonymous with sports in this city. For decades, the Montenegrin capital has nurtured a pool of talented handball players. Recently, the young female athletes from Cetinje have demonstrated the unique bond between this sport and the region nestled beneath Lovcen.

A prime example is the Stars Handball Club, established in 2018 by Marko Martinovic. Under the guidance of Drasko Kaluđerović, the club this season secured its first trophy for Cetinje.

The girls clad in yellow achieved an impressive record of 21 wins, no losses, and 1 draw, clinching the Pioneer League title for players born in 2010 and younger, while those born in 2008 finished in third place.

– I believe Mark’s vision and dedication to women’s handball, alongside the hard work of the girls, culminated in this season’s triumph with our first gold medal in women’s handball in Cetinje – Kaluđerović shared with “Vijesti”.

Future National Team Players

With abundant talent, could we soon see new representatives from Cetinje joining Montenegro’s national team?

– Without naming anyone specifically, I have faith our girls possess immense potential. I hope that in the future we will witness national team players emerging from RK Stars, marking a significant achievement for Marko, me, and the club at large. They certainly deserve this, as does Montenegro, to have women from Cetinje on the national stage – emphasized Kaluđerović, a former player for Lovcen.

His optimism is well-founded.

– Evidence of this talent is reflected in the fact that recently, seven girls from the club received invites to the senior and junior pioneer national teams. As I frequently discuss with Marko, I believe the girls’ talent parallels, if not exceeds, that of the boys’ from Cetinje. We truly are the cradle of handball; Cetinje is its heart, a fact repeatedly proven throughout history – Kaluđerović explained, currently in North Macedonia as part of the coaching staff for our young women’s team at the World Cup.

One particularly talented player from Cetinje has already gained experience in Montenegro’s First League.

– Indeed, that is Iva Božović, a member of the 2008 pioneer national team, who played as a pioneer for Ulcinj during the second half of the season under double registration.

Return of Senior Handball Since 1979

Plans for the upcoming season have already been established…

– We are set to compete in the Second Women’s League and in the Pioneer League for 2010/11 and 2012/13 categories. In the Second League, we aim to field players born in 2008, who will transition directly from the pioneer age to senior age. I must mention that, according to information from the Handball Association, senior women’s handball will return to Cetinje for the first time since 1979 this September.

Kaluđerović ventured into coaching because, as he shares, Martinović showed more faith in him than he had in himself.

– During the time I substituted for him while he was coaching the male cadet national team, I realized coaching could be my true calling. I found immense satisfaction in sharing knowledge with the children, who endeared themselves to me with their dedication and hard work at practice… Those moments shifted my path toward a coaching career as I recognized the significant talent among the players.

Training in Limited Space

The dedication to handball is evident, even amidst less-than-ideal training conditions, as illustrated by Draško’s experience…

– We practice in a school gym measuring 20×13 meters. When the kind-hearted staff from the Sports Center provide us access to a full-size court (40×20 meters), it’s a rare occasion. To visualize, we train on one-third of a regulation handball court, confined from the goal to the first line of the volleyball court. Despite these challenges, we take great pride in the just-completed season – concluded Kaluđerović.

For reference, matches in younger categories are held in the University Hall in Podgorica.

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